MOSCOW, Idaho – With effort and attitude checked off the to-do list, coach Paul Petrino and his staff say the Idaho Vandals are moving forward with the finer points of football as they head into the 2014 campaign.

“They understand now how we’re going to work; how camp will be run,” said Petrino of the biggest transformation since he took over last season. “Overall the passion (is improved) – the passion of loving football and wanting to get better every day.”

It will be on display beginning Monday when the Vandals take the field for fall camp at 6 p.m. They will practice at 6 p.m. through Friday before Saturday’s first scrimmage of camp at 10 a.m.

The spotlight position will be a competition this fall between sophomore Chad Chalich, who started seven games at quarterback before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season, and redshirt freshman Matt Linehan.

“If one of them takes off and just separates, I’ll name a starter then,” Petrino said, “but it they’re still real close and that goes all the way through fall camp, I can see playing both of them in the opener.”

Petrino also likes the team depth at receiver with the transformation of Joshua McCain from quarterback and the return of Deon Watson and Jacob Sannon and dual threat Richard Montgomery.

“We have a lot of explosion and speed at receiver,” Petrino said. “That’s a position that needs to be one of our strengths.”

Montgomery’s speed makes him a threat out of the backfield where he is joined by returners Jerrel Brown and Kris Olugbode and a sprinkling of newcomers aiming to make their marks.

Petrino said he also expects to see the marked improvement in the secondary continue as the Vandals gear up for the Aug. 30 opener at Florida.

Linehan threw for 3,184 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior, earning second-team All-Sun Belt honors. He also went on to capture the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Most Valuable Player award, after leading the Vandals to a win over Colorado State.

Falk, a redshirt-senior, was also finalist for the Johnny Unitas Award and a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award and Maxwell Award last season after throwing for the third-most yards in the country (4,468) and tying his own school-record with 38 touchdown passes.

Linehan threw for 3,184 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior, earning second-team All-Sun Belt honors. He also went on to capture the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Most Valuable Player award, after leading the Vandals to a win over Colorado State.

Linehan threw for 3,184 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior, earning second-team All-Sun Belt honors. He also went on to capture the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Most Valuable Player award, after leading the Vandals to a win over Colorado State.

Vegas Golden Knights Road Trip will visit various cities in Idaho, Montana and Utah, which are all within the Golden Knights’ authorized television distribution territory through their local rightsholder partnership with AT&T SportsNet.

Vegas Golden Knights Road Trip will visit various cities in Idaho, Montana and Utah, which are all within the Golden Knights’ authorized television distribution territory through their local rightsholder partnership with AT&T SportsNet.

"We should be one of the top groups in the Sun Belt, if not the top group. That is our expectation. The depth, really good. We should be at least two-deep, and then a couple guys that we can sprinkle into a three-deep."

"We should be one of the top groups in the Sun Belt, if not the top group. That is our expectation. The depth, really good. We should be at least two-deep, and then a couple guys that we can sprinkle into a three-deep."

Idaho will practice at night for the remainder of the week before changing things up heading into week two of fall camp. Matt Linehan, a Second Team All-Sun Belt selection in 2016, returns for his senior season looking to close out his collegiate career in style.

Idaho will practice at night for the remainder of the week before changing things up heading into week two of fall camp. Matt Linehan, a Second Team All-Sun Belt selection in 2016, returns for his senior season looking to close out his collegiate career in style.

Idaho returns a ton of talent from last year's squad that finished 9-4, including a huge win over Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The Vandals, despite being one of four Sun Belt schools to win a bowl game in 2016, were picked to finish sixth in this year's coaches' poll.

Idaho returns a ton of talent from last year's squad that finished 9-4, including a huge win over Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The Vandals, despite being one of four Sun Belt schools to win a bowl game in 2016, were picked to finish sixth in this year's coaches' poll.

The Vandals were outstanding in 2016, finishing the regular season 8-4 before taking down Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. This year's team knows that it will need to keep working to improve.

The Vandals were outstanding in 2016, finishing the regular season 8-4 before taking down Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. This year's team knows that it will need to keep working to improve.

Idaho football placed three on preseason All-Sun Belt Conference teams - reigning Newcomer of the Year Aikeem Coleman and offensive lineman Jordan Rose took home first team honors, while linebacker Tony Lashley earned second team accolades.

Idaho football placed three on preseason All-Sun Belt Conference teams - reigning Newcomer of the Year Aikeem Coleman and offensive lineman Jordan Rose took home first team honors, while linebacker Tony Lashley earned second team accolades.